Teen sentenced to 10 years in prison

Published: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 3:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 3:40 p.m.

A man charged with beating a fellow inmate inside the Marion County Jail, where the attacker awaited the resolution of an aggravated battery and attempted robbery case, will now spend 10 years in prison.

Tavaris M. Gilbert, 18, pleaded no contest to four felony counts.

In September 2012, victim Randy Lee Rice told authorities he was walking to a bakery with a friend when Gilbert, John'L Davis, 16, and another man approached them asking if they had any drugs to sell.

When Rice and his friend said they did not have drugs and started walking away, the trio robbed them and shot Rice in the left knee, the victim told police.

Gilbert was charged with first-degree principal to aggravated battery with a firearm, second-degree principal to attempted robbery with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a delinquent child. Both Gilbert and Davis were juveniles at the time.

Gilbert was sentenced to three concurrent 10-year prison sentences for each charge. He will receive a 279-day credit for time spent in jail pending resolution of the case.

Davis pleaded no contest in early June and is also serving three concurrent 10-year prison sentences. He will receive a 269-day credit for time served in jail pending resolution of the case.

While residing inside the Marion County Jail awaiting resolution of that robbery case, authorities charged Gilbert with a third-degree felony: battery by a person inside a detention facility.

In February, several inmates were involved in a brawl that sent inmate Charles Studer to the hospital bleeding from his face, mouth and left eye. His cousin, fellow inmate Daniel Studer, suffered a swollen cheek.

While several inmates were involved, only Gilbert and Joseph L. Dennis, 23, were arrested, as they were seen as the instigators.

Surveillance footage of the jail fight showed Gilbert and Dennis walking toward a cot belonging to Daniel Studer, 20, and throwing punches. The scuffle started when one of the inmates approached Charles Studer, 23, and accused him of owing them cake and a roll.

Gilbert pleaded no contest to the battery charge and will serve a five-year prison sentence that will run concurrently with the three 10-year sentences. A 112-day credit for time served pending resolution of the case will be applied to the sentence.

Court records show the state did not press charges against Dennis. He has been in jail since Sept. 6, 2012, on several charges including an ongoing case where he is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Shankera Lesha Smith, the mother of his child. He will face life in prison if convicted.

Daniel and Charles Studer were both incarcerated in January on charges of robbery with a firearm. Both men were released from the Marion County Jail on June 19. Court records show the State Attorney's Office dropped the charges against Daniel Studer, but Charles Studer was transported to prison, where he will serve a five-year sentence after pleading no contest in early June to a felony charge of principal to robbery with a deadly weapon.

A 151-day credit for time served awaiting resolution of the case will be applied to the sentence.

<p>A man charged with beating a fellow inmate inside the Marion County Jail, where the attacker awaited the resolution of an aggravated battery and attempted robbery case, will now spend 10 years in prison.</p><p>Tavaris M. Gilbert, 18, pleaded no contest to four felony counts.</p><p>In September 2012, victim Randy Lee Rice told authorities he was walking to a bakery with a friend when Gilbert, John'L Davis, 16, and another man approached them asking if they had any drugs to sell.</p><p>When Rice and his friend said they did not have drugs and started walking away, the trio robbed them and shot Rice in the left knee, the victim told police.</p><p>Gilbert was charged with first-degree principal to aggravated battery with a firearm, second-degree principal to attempted robbery with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a delinquent child. Both Gilbert and Davis were juveniles at the time.</p><p>Gilbert was sentenced to three concurrent 10-year prison sentences for each charge. He will receive a 279-day credit for time spent in jail pending resolution of the case.</p><p>Davis pleaded no contest in early June and is also serving three concurrent 10-year prison sentences. He will receive a 269-day credit for time served in jail pending resolution of the case.</p><p>While residing inside the Marion County Jail awaiting resolution of that robbery case, authorities charged Gilbert with a third-degree felony: battery by a person inside a detention facility.</p><p>In February, several inmates were involved in a brawl that sent inmate Charles Studer to the hospital bleeding from his face, mouth and left eye. His cousin, fellow inmate Daniel Studer, suffered a swollen cheek.</p><p>While several inmates were involved, only Gilbert and Joseph L. Dennis, 23, were arrested, as they were seen as the instigators.</p><p>Surveillance footage of the jail fight showed Gilbert and Dennis walking toward a cot belonging to Daniel Studer, 20, and throwing punches. The scuffle started when one of the inmates approached Charles Studer, 23, and accused him of owing them cake and a roll.</p><p>Gilbert pleaded no contest to the battery charge and will serve a five-year prison sentence that will run concurrently with the three 10-year sentences. A 112-day credit for time served pending resolution of the case will be applied to the sentence.</p><p>Court records show the state did not press charges against Dennis. He has been in jail since Sept. 6, 2012, on several charges including an ongoing case where he is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Shankera Lesha Smith, the mother of his child. He will face life in prison if convicted.</p><p>Daniel and Charles Studer were both incarcerated in January on charges of robbery with a firearm. Both men were released from the Marion County Jail on June 19. Court records show the State Attorney's Office dropped the charges against Daniel Studer, but Charles Studer was transported to prison, where he will serve a five-year sentence after pleading no contest in early June to a felony charge of principal to robbery with a deadly weapon.</p><p>A 151-day credit for time served awaiting resolution of the case will be applied to the sentence.</p><p><i>Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or april.warren@ocala.com.</i></p>